title: Neuron-specific overexpression of the co-chaperone Bcl-2-associated athanogene-1 in superoxide dismutase 1(G93A)-transgenic mice.
abstract: Bcl-2-associated athanogene-1 (BAG1) binds heat-shock protein 70 (Hsp70)/Hsc70, increases intracellular chaperone activity in neurons and proved to be protective in several models for neurodegeneration. Mutations in the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene account for approximately 20% of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases. A common property shared by all mutant SOD1 (mtSOD1) species is abnormal protein folding and the propensity to form aggregates. Toxicity and aggregate formation of mutant SOD1 can be overcome by enhanced chaperone function in vitro. Moreover, expression of mtSOD1 decreases BAG1 levels in a motoneuronal cell line. Thus, several lines of evidence suggested a protective role of BAG1 in mtSOD1-mediated motoneuron degeneration. To explore the therapeutic potential of BAG1 in a model for ALS, we generated SOD1G93A/BAG1 double transgenic mice expressing BAG1 in a neuron-specific pattern. Surprisingly, substantially increased BAG1 protein levels in spinal cord neurons did not significantly alter the phenotype of SOD1G93A-transgenic mice. Hence, expression of BAG1 is not sufficient to protect against mtSOD1-induced motor dysfunction in vivo. Our work shows that, in contrast to the in vitro situation, modulation of multiple cellular functions in addition to enhanced expression of a single chaperone is required to protect against SOD1 toxicity, highlighting the necessity of combined treatment strategies for ALS.
authors.affiliation: University of Göttingen, Department of Neurology, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rohde
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kermer
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bähr
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Weishaupt
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C091732:BCL2-associated athanogene 1 protein; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D014157:Transcription Factors; C109415:SOD1 G93A protein; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase